LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE
75th Regular Session
February 24, 1997
TO: Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair IN RE: House Bill No. 518
Committee on Judicial Affairs By: Thompson
House
Austin, Texas
FROM: John Keel, Director
In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on HB518 ( Relating
to the creation of a judicial compensation commission.) this
office has detemined the following:
Biennial Net Impact to General Revenue Funds by HB518-As Introduced
Implementing the provisions of the bill would result in a net
impact of $0 to General Revenue Related Funds through the biennium
ending August 31, 1999.
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would establish the Judicial Compensation Commission,
comprised of three members appointed by the governor with the
advice and consent of the Senate. The bill provides that the
commission would recommend salaries to be paid by the state
for all justices and judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Criminal
Appeals, Courts of Appeals and the district courts. These recommendations
would be made by the commission in a biennial report to the
Legislature. If neither house of the Legislature, by a majority
vote, rejects the recommendations within 180 days of the date
the report is delivered, the recommendations have the full force
of law. The commission members would not receive compensation
for their service but would receive actual and reasonable expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties. The Office of
Court Administration would provide administrative support for
the commission. In addition to the costs of expenses incurred
by the commission, there would be an increase in costs to the
state for all recommendations implemented by the commission.
The
bill would repeal Section 659.012 of the Government Code which
currently sets the salary differentials for the Supreme Court,
Court of Criminal Appeals, appellate courts and district courts.
The Act takes effect on the date on which the constitutional
amendment proposed by HJR 49, 75th Legislature, Regular Session
1997 takes effect.
Methodolgy
The Commission on Judicial Efficiency and the Office of Court
Administration estimate the cost of administrative support and
expenses for the three Judicial Compensation Commission members
at $5,000 annually.
The probable fiscal implications of implementing the provisions
of the bill during each of the first five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
Five Year Impact:
Fiscal Year Probable Change in Number
Savings/(Cost) of State
from General Employees from
Revenue Fund FY 1997
0001
1998 $0 0.0
1998 0 0.0
2000 0 0.0
2001 0 0.0
2002 0 0.0
Net Impact on General Revenue Related Funds:
The probable fiscal implication to General Revenue related funds
during each of the first five years is estimated as follows:
Fiscal Year Probable Net Postive/(Negative)
General Revenue Related Funds
Funds
1998 $0
1999 0
2000 0
2001 0
2002 0
Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as
the provisions of the bill are in effect.
There would be no cost to local units of government for the
creation and operation of the commission. However, local governments
will be impacted by an recommendations that result in an increase
in district court judge's salaries to the extent that local
judge's salaries are determined using the district judge's salary
as a standard.
Source: Agencies: 212 Office of Court Administration
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff: JK ,PE ,DC